Manchineel
In this article, Ace talks about the Manchineel tree, an incredibly dangerous tree on Atlantic coasts.
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Manchineel
Manchineel
By Ace Case
By Ace Case
Mother nature is strange, but it knows how to protect itself. Though some may expect a venomous spider bite, a carnivorous venus fly trap, and unknown flowers and berries to be dangerous, an entire tree may not be expected to hurt someone. The fruits of a strange tree, yeah, most people probably know not to eat it. However, even touching the Manchineel can burn. Literally.
Manchineel trees, or Hippomane Mancinella as they’re known scientifically, are part of the spurge or Euphorbiaceae family. They grow in Florida, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico. Manchineel grow up to 50 feet tall, two feet wide, and produce one to two-inch fruits. Britannica writes “The sweet-scented fruits are borne singly or in pairs and range in colour from yellow to reddish.” Though they resemble apples slightly, the nickname ‘Little Apple of Death’ should act as a deterrent.
The fruits of manchineel trees can be lethal if eaten. They may taste sweet at first, but they can quickly cause burn-like blisters in someone’s mouth. They affect the entire digestive tract, burn the throat and mouth, and cause swelling. Though it is rare to die from eating the fruit itself, it can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, and can cause death from dehydration. In 1999, radiologist Nicola Strickland was on vacation when she decided to eat the fruit. She wrote in the National Library of Medicine, “I rashly took a bite from this fruit and found it pleasantly sweet...Moments later we noticed a strange peppery feeling in our mouths, which gradually progressed to a burning, tearing sensation and tightness of the throat.” The fruit is poisonous, but the rest of the tree should be fine, right? Nope, all parts of the tree are toxic. The sap, leaves, and bark contain phorbol and can cause a strong allergic reaction. Touching the tree can cause blisters on your skin, and trying to shelter under the tree during the rain could give you the equivalent of acid rain when the sap gets carried down with the rain. When the bark is burnt, the smoke can blind someone. So acid rain, blisters, and blindness. Sounds like a good time.
Such a fun tree would logically have reports of its toxin throughout history. In 1493, Europe was made aware of the trees when Columbus and Spanish doctor, Diego Alveraz, went on their second voyage. Alvarez reported some of their men ate the fruit and immediately experienced swelling and extreme pain. Alveraz nicknamed the fruit ‘La Manzanilla de la Muerte’, or ‘Little Apple of Death.’ Later, in 1521, Juan Ponce de León was going to explore what is now known as Florida in search of the fountain of youth. The Indigenous Calusa people shot Juan Ponce de León with an arrow dipped in manchineel sap. He survived until he got onto his ship. Much, much later in history, in 1936, there was an.. interesting case of the sap poisoning a couple of people. Here, these two men unknowingly had the sap on their hands when they went to relieve themselves, and as Forensic Toxicologist Justin Bower writes, “The first had severe burning pain of the penis, preventing the patient from sitting down; the lesion resembled a second-degree burn.” He also reported the second man looked slightly shredded. Of course, in 1999, there was Nicola Strickland’s case as well. She could not swallow solid food and was upset that alcohol just made the pain worse. Finally, in 2011, the Guinness Book of World Records named Manchineel the Most Dangerous Tree.
Manchineel have been known to kill for hundreds of years, both purposefully and people just… eating random fruit they find. If you’re going on vacation to Florida or the Bahamas, be careful what tree you’re around. Unless you would like to be poisoned, but that is your choice.
Sources:
National Library of Medicine, Nicola Strickland
Nature's Poisons, Justin Bower
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